referred to in the text, when the empire has "assumed the livery of heaven,"--professedly in the interest of Christ, then it is that the devil bestirs himself. Like his prototype, he dreads the growth and power of the woman's offspring. Under pagan Rome's persecutions, "the more God's people were afflicted, the more they multiplied and grew." Now the adversary shapes his policy accordingly.--"Come on, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply."--His avowed object is, to "devour the child as soon as it is born,"--by persecution to prevent ministers from laboring to convert sinners to God; and to destroy all who "as new-born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word."--The woman had still "strength to bring forth."--"She brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron."--With united voice papists and prelates declare, this child can be no other than Constantine the first Christian emperor. The very fact that this interpretation comes from such a source, may well suggest suspicion as to its correctness. Two considerations demonstrate the error of this prelatic interpretation, besides the fact that it is _prelatic_. Constantine had gone the way of all the earth some hundreds of years before the birth of this child. And again, the eternal Father never made the promise to Constantine or any other earthly monarch, to which the apostle John here refers. (Ps. ii. 8, 9.) This promise is obviously made to the Lord Christ. But it is objected by those learned expositors,--much like the Pharisees, (John vii. 52,)--"Search and look, for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet." So reason these men. They haughtily and confidently object thus:--"Christ is the son of the _Jewish_ church, but this child is the son of the _Christian_ church." This argument destroys the unity of the church of God, which is one under all changes of dispensation of his gracious covenant. (Rom. xi. 16-24; Eph. ii. 20.) The Messiah is here represented as in the beginning of the war with the same enemy;--the _seed_ of the _woman_ shall bruise the serpent's head. Still may the church of God joyfully declare,--"Unto us a _Child_ is born, unto us a _Son_ is given." (Is. ix. 6.) This _masculine_ son, however, is not to be understood of Christ _personal_, but of Christ mystical,--of those who are with him "called, and chosen, and faithful;" whom "he is not ashamed to call his brethren." (ch. xvii. 14; Heb. ii. 11.) The "sealed" company, (ch. vii. 4,) the "two witnesses;" (xi. 3), the "144 thousand," (xiv. 1,) are the "manchild." As many rulers constitute but one "angel," (chs. ii. and iii.,) so the two witnesses are one _manly Son_. The Lord Jesus was _alone_ in the work of redemption; but he allows his faithful disciples to share in the honor of his victories, (ch. ii. 26, 27; Ps. cxlix. 9.) From the devouring jaws of the dragon, as it were, the "child is caught up unto God, and to his throne." The leaders in church and